Light reflected off a satellite mistaken for a distant gamma-ray burst

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Remotely-controlled telescope RBT in Arizona, which was used by astronomers from the Poznań observatory to observe the satellite debris which was mistaken for a gamma-ray burst. The inset shows a picture taken by the telescope at which the debris (shown by the circle) can be seen
Remotely-controlled telescope RBT in Arizona, which was used by astronomers from the Poznań observatory to observe the satellite debris which was mistaken for a gamma-ray burst. The inset shows a picture taken by the telescope at which the debris (shown by the circle) can be seen
 
Astronomers from AMU Astronomical Observatory Institute have found a satellite debris which was mistaken for a gamma-ray burst (explosion of a very massive star) in the most distant galaxy known to date. If it was really a gamma-ray burst, it would be an extraordinary discovery allowing the study of the conditions in which stars in the very early universe form.

Proton rocket whose upper stage, after entering the Earth orbit, was mistaken for being a gamma-ray burst (Copyright NASA)
Proton rocket whose upper stage, after entering the Earth orbit, was mistaken for being a gamma-ray burst (Copyright NASA)
 
Astronomers from Poznań performed calculations of the orbit of the upper stage of the Proton rocket and observed it using the Roman Baranowski Telescope. This is a robotic telescope owned by the university, located in Arizona (USA) and operated remotely via internet from Poznań. This led to the conclusion that Solar light reflected off this space junk was the source of the signal which was before interpreted as a gamma-ray burst.

The publication in Nature Astronomy is available at: https://rdcu.be/cyMvJ

 
 
 
 
 
 
2021-10-04 18:00, MM